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5 Easy Gardening Tips That’ll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro

Want to grow plants like a pro? If you are, these 5 easy gardening tips will help you out. Growing plants is an art. It’s an action and art with a purpose of creating magnificent surroundings. Growing plants require your love, patience, and care. An exciting adventure that anyone can venture to. Read on and discover the secret on how to become an expert in growing your plants.

Grow Plants Like A Pro With These 5 Simple Tips

This post is courtesy of Garden Season and shared with permission.

Want to grow plants and start a garden of your own? Good going green thumb soon to be! It’s never too late to start gardening. In fact, you’re lucky to be getting these ideas, tips, and guides from once gardening novice who’s more than happy to assist you every step of the way.

While actually growing plants are easy as sticking a seed to the ground, growing a garden of them is a different story. As I’ve said, lucky you I’ve got these 5 simple tips to get you going and growing plants with ease like you’re always meant to be.

I remember when I started to grow plants in pots just to decorate my home. There’s just something about indoor plants which enliven the house when fancy decor are just dull and lifeless. Then, I progressed to growing herbs and to my delight, my kitchen has never been the same. A kitchen without some culinary herbs nearby is now a big no-no to me.

Now, I try to hold myself down, lest I live in a forest instead of a garden full of plants. I’m pretty sure you’re excited to get starting but try to hold yourself down for some time too. Let me tell you some simple and very basic tips so you can kick off and be on the right track. Check these helpful tips as you read through.

1. Start With Easy To Grow Plants

Start With Easy To Grow Plants | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro
image via baitihomes

Of course, there are plants requiring practically little attention. While you may want to get on with the plant world’s big leagues, let’s try the juniors first. If you want to grow your own food, go with herbs and you’ll be wanting more after.

For flowers, you can go with the perennial bulbs. As long as they’re planted in a loose, sandy, and well-draining soil, they’ll be good to go. In the temperate north, plant Crocuses and Snowdrops close to each other in a small plant bed for an all-season flower garden. You can grow Canna Lilies, Caladiums, and Gladioli in the warm south.

If you want to grow an orchard, you’ll find rooting an avocado seed from the fruit you bought from the grocery so easy you’ll grow more. You’ll also find starting lemon seeds from the those you squeezed out of a fruit easy.

Most vegetables are easy to grow. Just find out which vegetables are grown in the summer and which veggies prefer the cool fall and winter weather. It’s also important to know your hardiness zone to know when to plant a variety of vegetable.

2. Pick A Sunny Location

Pick A Sunny Location | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A ProPick A Sunny Location | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro
image via gardendsgn

Although there are plants preferring shady areas, warmth and sunlight are not altogether absent. The sun is essential to plant growth only the amount needed in different plants varies.

Most vegetables will need the sunlight to grow but sunlight can be intense, most new plants will need protection. Most annual flowering plants love the sun so much their blooms are intensified with the sun.

Weeds love the sun too. So while you are on the look out for your growing greenies, watch out for these pesky weeds. Get rid of them then and there before they outgrow your plants.

3. The Essence Of A Rich Soil

The Essence Of A Rich Soil | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A ProThe Essence Of A Rich Soil | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro
image via kentvb

I’m sure you’ve heard about composting in the garden before and gardeners do compost knowing the importance of a healthy soil to plants. A rich and healthy soil need to have the right balance of nutrients or minerals plant needs to grow.

Avoid using unnatural fertilizers, pest repellents, and weed killers. They will disrupt the natural process going on in the soil. If you ever have to deal with pests, weeds, and improving your soil, always do it the natural way.

You’ll find vegetables grown in healthy and organic soil are healthy and rich as well. When growing plants from seeds, it is best to start them in compost or rich soil to boost growth.

4. Sow In Succession

Sow In Succession | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A ProSow In Succession | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro
image via youtube

When growing vegetables for your own food, this is how green thumbs do it with success. Even experts know they cannot sow seeds and see them all into maturity.

There’s always a bad seed or a bad seed batch. Sowing batches of seeds in succession ensures planting success. If one batch gets affected with pests or diseases, you always got more to go.

Sudden change in weather can affect plants too so it’s really ideal to keep a stock on seedlings. This will also ensure a steady supply of fresh and organic vegetables all seasons long.

5. Prune, Prune, Prune

Prune, Prune, Prune | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A ProPrune, Prune, Prune | Easy Gardening Tips That'll Have You Grow Plants Like A Pro
image via mingaskillbuilding

One of the essential tasks to maintaining your garden and keeping your plants at their best is by pruning. This is cutting through unsightly or dead leaves and branches without actually hurting the plant. In fact, this is ideal for plant growth.

Besides keeping your plants growing nicely, pruning also helps prevent the spread of plant diseases. By cutting affected parts off from the plant before they jump on to another.

Vegetables like bell peppers and tomatoes will have more yields by pinching off some foliage. Flowers like roses and hydrangeas, on the other hand, will have more blooms with pruning.

Wish to be growing your own food for some time now? Then check this video from Howcast and start growing veggies:

It’s no use preaching how really great plants are. You are here since you know how important and effective they are for a beautiful home, a healthy body, and for a peaceful soul. It’s not hard to grow plants. The hardest part may be starting it. The reservation comes from having to maintain them. But that’s the main point. The beauty of gardening is in seeing your plants through. With the help of gardeners and green thumb who went through the same process as you, you can grow plants with these helpful tips, guide, and ideas.

There you have it, my fellow homesteaders! Beginner’s tips to grow plants on your own. Let me know if you have some more ideas. Share it and post in the comments section below.

I hope this topic will be helpful as you start growing plants but if you specifically planned a vegetable garden, then check these tips and ideas for vegetable gardening beginners.

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Self Sufficiency

NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.

The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.

The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.

“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”

The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller

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Self Sufficiency

How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!

This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.

So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?

RELATED: How To Make Buttermilk On Your Homestead

Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know

Why Make Sauerkraut?

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Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.

So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon of salt

Tools Needed:

  • knife
  • bowl
  • mason jar
  • smaller jar
  • rubber band

Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients



Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.

You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.

Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.

Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips



Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.

Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt



Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.

TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.

RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe

Step 4: Massage the Cabbage



Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.

TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.

Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar



Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.

IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.

Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar



You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.

Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.

Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band



Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.

Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily

Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.

Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures

Homemade Sauerkraut Cumin Juniper | How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.

NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.

You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.

Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut

  • Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
  • Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
  • Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
  • If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.

Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!

So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.

What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!

Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!

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Self Sufficiency

9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN

Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!

RELATED: Microgreens Growing Guide

In this article:

  1. Tomato
  2. Eggplant
  3. Beet
  4. Spinach
  5. Pea
  6. Carrot
  7. Radish
  8. Cauliflower
  9. Asparagus

Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!

Tomato

Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.

Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.

Eggplant

Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?

Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.

Beets

Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.

If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.

Spinach

Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!

Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.

Pea

Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.

Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.

Carrot

There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.

They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.

Radish

A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.

Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.

Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.

Asparagus

Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!

Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.

All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!

So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!

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